Apparatus for forming belt loops on garments



Sept, 29, 1959 A. s. MINCHENBERG 2,906,218

APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT Loops oN GARMENTS Filed Aug. 4, 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -mswmlum L 4 ze ALFRED smlN'cHENERG Sept' 29, 1959 A. s. MINCHENBERG 2,906,218 I APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT LOOPS ON GARMENTS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ALFRED S. MINCHENBERG A TTOP/VEY i Lv A. s. MINCHENBERG 2,906,218

APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT LOOPS ON GARMENTS Filed Aug. 4, 195e Sept. 29, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ALFRED S. MINCHENBERG BY Q. 'a @EQ 757' ATMP/wy APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT LOOPS ON GARMENTS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 Sept. 29, 1959 A. s. MlNcHl-:NBERG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ALFRED S. MINCHENBERG A TTOP/VEY moans Patented Sept. 29, 1959 United States Patent nice APPARATUS Fon FORMING BELT Loors oN GARMENTS Alfred S. Minchenberg, Winchendon, Mass. Application August 4, 1958, Serial No. 752,696

6 Claims. (Cl. 112104) This invention relates'to apparatus for forming belt loops on dresses and other garments.

Many dresses are made with belts, which are kept in place about the waist portion of the dress b-y a plurality of belt loops extending in a vertical direction upon the dress and spaced circumferentially of the garment. Said belt loops are merely thin lengths of thread, the ends of which are tied or otherwise connected at the inner, concealed side of the fabric, with the loop projecting through vertically spaced openings of the fabric at the upper and lower ends of the loop.

The forming of the loops in the garment has hereto- -fore involved an undesirably great amount of time. 1 This obviously increases the labor costs 'involved in the making of a dress or other garment. It is extremely important, in commercial dress manufacturing operations,.to keep the costs as low as possible, since this 1s an extremely competitive eld in which even minute savings in time, without reduction of` quality, can be very important,

The main object of the present invention is to provide a semi-automatic machine for forming belt loops, which will reduce considerably the amount of time required* in the formation of the loops, the engagement .of the loops in the fabric, and the tying of the loops. `In this way, it is proposed to permit a single workertoforrn a greater numberV of belt loops over a predetermined period'of time, than has heretofore been possible through the use of apparatus already devised for aiding in the formation of belt loops.

Another object is to providea machine of the character described which will belsure in operation, and will be relatively simple in design, so as not to require the services of a highly paid Worker possessing unusual machine operating skills. I Another object is to provide a belt loop forming machine that will be capable of operation by a worker seated comfortably at the frontl of the machine, thus to reduce Workerfatigue and maintain production at a high level.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character stated which will be so designed that the fabric will be swiftly moved on completion ofeach belt loop, to a new position ready for the formation of the next beltloop.

Still another object, in one form of the invention, is to the like. Further, the same linkage might be solenoidoperated.,v v;

For further comprehension ofthe invention,zandj of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willbe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, -aud .to theappended claims-.iinrwhish fh stadtus.

novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. i

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is 'a side elevational View of a belt-loop-forming machine according to the present invention, a portion of the supporting pedestal being broken away, the parts being shown in full lines in their normal, rest position and in chain-dotted lines in their operating position, a garment being shown fragmentarily and in dotted lines.

Fig. y2 isa top plan view of the machine, a portion of the base being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper poition of the machine, showing the side opposite that seen in Fig. l.

Fig. `4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the front portion of themachine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the head end portion of the spacer bar.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View of the thread cutting blade per se.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modiiied form utilizing a foot-operated switch and a solenoid, showing the same side of the machine as seen in Fig. l.

' Figs. 9-13 .are enlarged, somewhat diagrammatic views showing a folded garment in section and'illustrating successive steps in the operation of vproviding, a belt loop in said folded garment by means of a machine.

Fig, 14 is a perspective yiewof a portion of the garment, as it appears when removed from the machine.

Fig. l5 isa vfragrnentt-try perspective view of a portion of the garment after it has been opened into a flat condition to expose the finished belt loops.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprising the present invention has been generally designated wand may include its own stand 12, by means of which the machine is supported in an elevated position above a iloor surface F. The stand 12 which has been illustrated by way of example includes a fiat, cast base 1 4- integral with an upwardly `projecting pedestal 16, the connection of which to base 14 may be braced by gussets 18. Base 14 in the illustrated example is bolted at 20 to the floor surface F. Pedestal 16 at its upper end is integral with a horizontal table 22, the connection of which to the pedestal may be braced by integral gussets 24.y

The stand illustrated and described is merely illustrative of a support that can be used for the components of the machine that are to be described hereinafter. As will be apparent, any of various supports may be employed.

. In any event, the machine includes a horizontal, rectangular, wholly flat base plate 26 bolted at 28 to table 22 in face-to-face contact therewith and projecting forwardly beyond the front edge 36 of the table.

Integral with and projectingA upwardly from the basev plate 26 is a ilat support plate 32, which is coextensive in length with the base plate and which extends longitudinally and centrally of the base plate as shown in Fig. 2.

The support plate 3'2 and the base plate are integral at their front endsV with a transverse front end plate 34, which .terminates at its upper edge 36 a short distance above -a right-angular recess 38. formed in the front end plate 32 at thetop thereof. y, Y

At, the rear end of the recess 38, an elongated sleeve 40 is welded at 42 to the top edge 44 of plate 32. Sleeve 40 extends horizontally in a fore-and-aft` direction, and

mountedgin the rear end of the sleeveY 40 is a bushingor have smoothfwalled, coaxial bores, and freely slidable within the bores of the bushings is an elongated needle support plunger 50 having in its forward end an axial recess receiving a needle 52 Adjacent its front end the needle 52 has an opening, through which extends a thread T that unwinds from a spool S freely rotatable upon an upwardly projecting spindle 54, the spool being supported upon a threaded nut or sleeve 56 carried by the spindle. The spindle (see Fig. 3) has a lateral extension 58 at its lower end, extending through an opening 60 formed in the outwardly offset upper end 62 of a support bracket 64, that may be spot-welded as at 66 to the plate 32. Thus, the spindel is mounted upon the device for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the axis defined by a lateral extension 58 thereof.

The plunger 50 is normally retracted to its full line position shown in Fig. 1, but can be advanced to the dotted line position thereof shown in the same figure of the drawing. The means to advance the plunger includes a laterally projecting pin 68 carried by the plunger, said pin extending through a slot 70 formed in the upper end portion 72 of a T-shaped lever 74 the lower end of which is pivoted at 76 upon a screw projecting laterally outwardly from the plate 32. The lever has a forwardly projecting leg 78, having at its distal end a laterally extending ange 80 to which is connected an eye 82. Connected at its upper end to the eye 82 is a chain 84 which extends downwardly through a slot 86 formed in the base plate 26, to a foot pedal 88 hinged at 90 upon base 14, for depression to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 from its normal, full line position shown in the same figure of the drawing.

A contractile spring 92 is hooked at one end in an opening 94 formed in the upper end of the lever 74. The other end 96 of the spring 92 is engageable in any one of a plurality of rearwardly opening notches 88 formed in the back edge of the plate 32.

Spring 92 normally biases lever 74 about its pivot 76 to the retracted, full line position shown in Fig. 1. Against the restraint of the spring, the lever may swing to its dotted line position shown in the same figure of the drawing. This is effected by depression of the foot pedal 88. As will presently appear, other means can be employed for biasing the lever about its pivot.

An adjustable stop limiting swinging movement of the lever rearwardly beyond its full line position of Fig. 1 comprising an angle bracket 100. This has a laterally projecting flange 102 extending in the path of swinging movement of the lever. Flange 102 thus constitutes an abutment for the lever. Said abutment limits swinging of the lever rearwardly beyond its full line, rest position shown in Fig. 1.

Bracket 100 has a rearwardly opening slot 104. This receives a screw 106 threaded in plate 102. The bracket may thus be adjusted in a fore-and-aft directon. This provides for an adjustment in the position of the abutment 102. The result is that there is a corresponding adjustment or selection of the rest position of the lever 74.

It will be apparent that the lever and chain means comprises a motion-translating assembly. Such assembly converts downward swinging movement of the foot pedal 88 into a straight line, horizontal, forward motion of the plunger S0. Pull-back spring 92 returns the plunger to its rest position when the pressure on the pedal is released.

At the front of the machine there is an assembly for locating and guiding the garment G in which the-belt loop is being formed. Said garment guide assembly has been generally designated 108', and includes astationary, rectangular, vertically disposed'backing plate 110 which is positionedr transversely ofthe device, in front of and` in close proximity to the end plate 3 4. Backing plate 110 is spaced from the endplate 34- by spacer plates 112, and is, connected to ltheplate 341by Vmeans ofbolts 114 having wing nuts 116, said boltsextending through the plates 110, 1-1'2; 34:

Projecting forwardly from the upper edge portion of plate 110 are transversely spaced, horizontally aligned pins 118, which may be threadedly engaged in the plate 110 and which have heads at their forwardly projecting, outer ends, said heads providing abutments for springs 120 circumposed about the pins. The springs 120 abut against the top edge portion of a clamping plate 122, having medially its opposite side edges an upwardly opening notch 124 through which the needle 52 is adapted to extend when advanced to its dotted line, operative position shown in Fig. 1.

Thus, the plate 122 is resiliently, yieldably biased towards the plate 110. In this connection plate 122 at its lower edge is spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of the plate 110 a substantial distance, and is curved forwardly outwardly from the plate 110 as shown at 124. This facilitates entry of the garment, with the garment being inserted in a folded condition into the space between the plates 122, 110. Fixedly secured to the top edge portion of the plate 122 is a combined hinge and spacer bar 126. Plate 122 may rock about the bar 126 under the pressure of springs 120.

Referring to Fig. 3, projecting upwardly along one side of the plate 132 is an elongated support bracket 128 spotwelded at 130 or otherwise lixedly secured to the plate 32. The upper end portion 132 of this bracket is offset outwardly from plate 32.

An elongated spacer bar 134 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the upper end portion 132 of the bracket 128. The pivotal connection is effected by a rivet or pin 136. Bar 1'34 at its rear end is axially twisted at 138 and extended upwardly to provide a handle 140.

Bar 134 thus swings in a vertical plane about the axis defined bythe pin 136. Normally the bar is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. However, it may be pressed downwardly at its handle end by the user, in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This elevates a nose 142 formed upon the front end of the bar. Integral or otherwise rigid with the bar at the nose end thereof is a laterally extending finger 144.

The bar is normally biased to its Fig. 3 position by a contractile spring 146. This is connected at one end to the plate 32 by a pin 148. The other end 150 of the spring is hooked to the forward end portion of the bar 134.

Swinging movement of the bar against the restraint of the spring in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 is adjustably limited. The adjustable limit is provided by the adjustably positioned nut 56. When the bar is swung in the direction of the arrow it is engaged by a laterally projecting ear 152. Ear 152 is integrally formed upon the top portion of the bar 134 forwardly of the pivot. The ear has an opening receiving the threaded rod or spindle 54.

Although the bar 134 is rocked in the direction of the arrowr manually, it could be rocked in the same manner as the lever 74 is rocked. In other words, a chain, not shown, could be connected to the handle 140 and extended downwardly. Said chain would extend downwardly to a foot pedal, also not shown. This additional foot pedal would be mounted upon the base 14. Then again, therecould be provided a foot-actuated switch. This could control operation of a solenoid or similar electrical device. Said electrical device would rock the bar 134 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3.

When the bar rocks, the nger 144 thereof moves upwardly, for a purpose to be made presently apparent.

At the completion of the belt-loop-forming operation, it is necessary to cut the thread T. To this end, there is provided a sleeve 152. This is welded or otherwise tixedly secured to the back surface of the plate adjacent needle 52. Sleeve 152 has an axial, smoothwalled bore 154. The rod 156 slides in the bore 154. Rod 156 can be-secured in selected positions of vertical adjustment by aV setscrew 158 threaded into sleeve 152' and' bearing against the rod 156. Rod 156? at its upper apodera end is formed with a cutting blade 160* having cutting edges 162 converging toward the rod 156 to form a wedge-shaped notch. The thread may be brought into said notch and moved to the inner end thereof along one or the other cutting edge. This efects immediate cutting of the thread, without difliculty.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a modified form, in which all the parts are identical to those previously described, with the exception that a solenoid means is used to rock the lever 74 from its full line to its dotted line position of Fig. 1. The solenoid means could be arranged in any of various ways. By way of example, a 'C-shaped bracket i 164 is secured by bolts 166 to the underside of base plate 26. Extending through the opening 86 of the base plate 26 is. the core 168 of a solenoid 170 mounted upon the bracket 164. Core 168 is normally extended to the Fig. 8 position. When the solenoid is energized the core is retracted. The upper end thus moves instantaneously in a vertical, downward direction when the solenoid is energized.

The core 168 at its upper end is connected by a pivoted loop 172 to the lower end of a short chain 174. The other end of the chain 164 is connected to the eye 82.

It will be apparent that when the solenoid is energized, lever 74 will be instantaneously rocked to its chain-dotted position shown in Fig. 1. When the solenoid is deenergized, spring 92 will contract and will return the lever to its normal position, simultaneously with the extension of the core 168 to its normally disposed, upwardly projecting position.

To energize the solenoid there is provided in this form of the invention a foot-operated, push-button type switch 176. This is mounted upon the base 14. The user simply depresses the button 178 of the switch. The switch and the solenoid would be in circuit with a suitable source of electric power, as will be understood, so that when the switch is closed, current will flow through the solenoid to energize the same.

As previously mentioned herein, a similar means could be employed for the bar 134, that is, the bar could be rocked in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, either by the foot pedal and chain means shown in Fig. l, or by the solenoid means shown in Fig. 8.

In operation of this form of the invention, one iirst inserts the garment G between plates 122 and 110. The plateis folded as shown in Fig. l before such insertion. The thread, of course, will have previously been extended through the eye of the retracted needle 52.

The needle is advanced to the dottedv line position shown in Fig. l in the manner previously described. -It extends through the folded portions of the garment, adjacent the fold line of the garment, with the needle projecting through the notch 124 of plate 122. This passes the thread through the garment and disposes a portion of the thread forwardly of the garment, which portion is of course extended through the eye of the needle. The operator grasps this forwardly projecting portion.

Now, the needle is permitted to retract. The needle will be moved rearwardly out of the garment. This is shown in the diagrammatic illustrations comprising Figs. 9-13. In Fig. 9 the needle is shown advanced through the garment, carrying the thread with it, the needle being thrust forwardly beyond the folded portions 180, 182 of the garment G, carrying a loose thread end 184. Then, retraction of the needle is shown in Fig. l0. In this figure it is shown that the loose thread end 184 is grasped between the linger and thumb of the users hand so as not to be pulled back through the portions 180, 182 of the garment.

The next step is shown in Fig. `ll.` With the needle retracted and the thread end 184 held firmly between the index finger and thumb, Athe user rocks the bar 134 in the direction of the arrow s hown in Figs. l and 3. This elevates the linger 144 to the Fig. l1 position. The finger travels upwardly, engaging the thread at the side of the folded garment opposite that at which the thread end 184 is disposed. The raised portion of the thread has been designated at 186 in Fig. 1l.

The portion 186 is thus conveniently disposed to be grasped by the user, who enters the portion 186 of the thread into the wedge-shaped space between the cutter blades 162. This is shown in Fig. l2. v

The thread is now cut olf at the proper length and the ends 184, 186 are brought together by the worker over the fold line 188 of the garment. The thread ends are tied together at 190 as shown in Fig. 13.

The garment is now moved horizontally, transversely of the device to locate another portion of the same in registration Vwith the slot 124 and the operation is now repeated. Eventually, a plurality of the tied loops 192 shown in Fig. 13 will be provided and the garment will appear as in Fig. 14. f

When all the belt loops are formed, the folded portions 180, 182 of the garment are swung away from each other so that the garment is now flat as in Fig. 15. This may be done by swinging lthe portion 180 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 14, that is, upwardly. When this is done, portions 194 of the loops, whichrportions previously extended between the garment portions 180, 182 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, willnow be exposed at the front of the garment. The knots will be concealed in i back of the garment as shown in Fig. l5. VThe portions 194 provide Ithe belt loops of the dress or other garment. It will be seen that the device permits belt loops to be formed rapidly and easily, thereby increasing to a considerable extent the productivity of the worker. At the same time, the machine is so designed as to reduce fatigue-causing factors to a minimum, providing still further production-increasing characteristics in the device.

Although a mechanical linkage and a solenoid-operated means have been shown herein by way of example, it is possible that a compressed-air or hydraulically powered arrangement might be used.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself lto the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States'Letters Patent l. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a flat fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the supportforreciprocation in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric work piece and then retract the same from the Work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting the same in an 'opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly cornprising a stationary vertically disposed backing platesupported by said stand,ra clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having alignedvertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needlejmeans being movable through said notches -when advanced to locate one end of the thread forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate following retraction of the needle means, and Va cutter adjacent the thread elevating means fo-r cutting the elevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the thread, said free other end passing through the open upper ends of the notches to eect manual tying of the` thread ends to produce said loop, said support including an upstandingV plate tixedly Y`7 mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocating movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being lixedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate in position extending transversely of the plate.

2. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a ilat fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the support for reciprocation in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric work piece and then retract the same from the Work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting thesame in an opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on-said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly comprising a stationary vertically disposed backing plate supported by said stand, a clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having aligned vertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needle means being movable through said notches when advanced to locate one end of the thread forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate following retraction of the needle means, and a cutter adjacent the thread elevating means for cutting the elevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the thread, said free other end passing through the open upper ends of the notches to effect manual tying of the thread ends to produce said loop, said support includingran upstanding plate fixedly mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocating movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being lixedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate, in position extending transversely of the plate, said support further including a horizontally extending sleeve xedly secured to the upper end of the plate, the needle means including a plunger slidably engaged in said sleeve and shifting in the direction of its length during the reciprocating movement of the needle means, said means for shifting the needle means being of the motion-translating type, said spring means comprising spaced headed pins secured to the backing plate and extending outwardly through the clamping plate, and springs on said pins biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate.

3. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a tlat fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the support for reciproeation in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric Work piece and then retract the same from the work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting the same in an opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly comprising a stationary yvertically disposed backing plate supported by said stand, a clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having aligned vertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needle means being movable through said notches when advanced to locate one end of the thread forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate following retraction of tbe needle means, and a cutter adjacent the thread elevating means for cutting theelevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the-thread, said free other end passing through the open upper ends of the, notches to eifect manual tying of the thread ends to produce said loop, said support including an upstanding plate fixedly mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocating movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being tixedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate, in position extending transversely of the plate, said support further including a horizontally extending sleeve xedly secured to the upper end of the plate, the nee-:lle means including a plunger slidably engaged in said sleeve and shifting in the direction of its length during the reciprocating movement of the needle means, said means for shifting the needle means being of the motion-translating type, and including a foot pedal disposed for depression by the operator, a lever pivotally connected to the support, a flexible element connected to the lever at a location remote from the pivot axis thereof, said flexible element being connected to the pedal so as to rock the lever responsive to depression of the foot pedal, and a slidable, pivotal connection between the plunger and the lever adapted to translate rocking motion of the lever' into a straight line, axial movement of the plunger.

4. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a flat fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the support for reciprocation in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric Work piece and then retract the same from the Work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting the same in an opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly comprising a stationary vertically disposed backing plate supported by said stand, a clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having aligned vertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needle means being movable through said notches when advanced to locate one end of the thread'forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate following retraction of the needle means, and a cutter adjacent the thread elevating means for cutting the elevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the thread, said free other end passing throughthe open upper ends of the notches to etfect manual tying of the thread ends to produce said loop, said support including an upstanding plate xedly mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocat ing movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being xedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate, in position extending transversely of the plate, said support further including a horizontally extending sleeve tixedly secured to the upper end of the plate, the needle means including a plunger slidably engaged in said sleeve and shifting in the direction of its length during the reciprocating movement of the needle means, said means for shifting the needle means being of the motion-translating type, and including a foot pedal disposed for depression by the operator, a lever pivotally connected to the support, a flexible element connected to the lever at a location remote from the pivot axis thereof, said exible element being connected to the pedal so as to rock the lever responsive to depression of the foot pedal, and a slidable, pivotal; connection between the plunger and the lever adapted to translate rocking motion of the lever into a straight line, axial movement of the plunger, said lever being of 'lf-shaped formation, with the pivot axis, the. connection'of the exible element, and the con nection to the plungerbeing disposed at the several extremities of the lever.

5. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a flat fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the support for reciprocatio-n in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric work piece and then retract the same from the work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting the `same in an opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly comprising a stationary vertically disposed backing plate supported by said stand, a clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having aligned vertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needle means being movable through said notches when advanced to locate one end of the thread forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate, following retraction of the needle means, and a cutter adjacent the thread elevating means for cutting the elevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the thread, said free other end passing through the open upper ends of the notches to effect manual tying of the thread ends to produce said loop, said support including an upstanding plate xedly mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocating movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being xedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate, in position extending transversely of the plate, said support further including a horizontally extending sleeve xedly secured to the upper end of the plate, the needle means including a plunger slidably engaged in said sleeve and shifting in the direction of its length during the reciprocating movement of the needle means, said means for shifting the needle means being of the motion-translating type, said meansl for shifting the needle means including a foot pedal depressible by a user, an electric switch operated responsive to depression ofthe foot pedal, a solenoid mounted upon the stand, a lever rockably mounted upon the support and having a pivotal, slidable connection to the plunger spaced from the pivot axis of the lever so as to axially shift the plunger responsive to rocking of the lever, and a llexible element connected between the lever and the co-re of the solenoid, said solenoid being in circuit with the switch and being energized responsive to said operation of the switch.

6. A machine for forming belt loops of thread in a at fabric work piece, comprising a stand, a support thereon, needle means mounted upon the support for reciprocation in a horizontal direction, whereby to advance said needle means through said fabric Work piece and then retract the same from the work piece, means for shifting the needle means in one direction, means for shifting the same in an opposite direction, a combined work piece locating and guiding assembly on said support for supporting the work piece in a vertical position perpendicular to said needle and in the path of movement thereof, said assembly comprising a stationary vertically disposed backing plate supported by said stand, a clamping plate pivotally supported at its upper edge adjacent said backing plate, spring means biasing the clamping plate toward the backing plate for retaining the work piece therebetween, said backing and clamping plates having aligned vertical notches with open upper ends at upper edges of the plates, the needle means being movable through saidnotches when advanced to locate one end of the thread forwardly of the clamping plate, means for elevating a rear portion of the thread in back of said backing plate following retraction of the needle means, and a cutter adjacent the -thread elevating means for cutting the elevated rear portion of the thread to provide a free other end of the thread, said free other end passing through the open upper ends of the notches to eiect manual tying of the thread ends to produce said loop, said support including an upstanding plate xedly mounted upon the stand, said plate extending in a foreand-aft direction in alignment with the path of reciprocating movement of the needle means, said locating and guiding assembly being xedly mounted upon the stand at the front end of the plate, in position extending transversely of the plate, said support further including a horizontally extending sleeve fixedly secured to the upper end of the plate, the needle means including a plunger slidably engaged in said slee-ve and shifting in the direction of its length during the reciprocating movement of the needle means, said means for shifting the needle means being of the motion-translating type, and including a foot pedal disposed for depression by the operator, a lever pivotally connected to the support, a flexible element connected to the lever at a location remote from the pivot axis thereof, said exible element being connected to the pedal so as to rock the lever responsive to depression of the foot pedal, and a slidable, pivotal connection between the plunger and the lever adapted to translate rocking motion of the lever into a straight line, axial movement of the plunger, the needle means further including a spring connected between the plunger and support and tensioned to' bias the plunger in a rearward direction.

References Cited in the flle of this vpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,853 Coleman Sept. 17, 1912 1,644,700 Watson Oct. 11, 1927 2,507,814 Rantanen May 16, 1950 2,558,873 Mollis July 3, 1951 2729.177 Flood Jan. 3, 1956 

